Game #5: May 31 - (Pickering, Ont) Fresh off their exhilarating 7th inning comeback win last Thursday, The Shamrocks were going to need more late inning heroics to prevent another loss this early in the season. Faced with another depleted roster, the Shammys were on the road for the first time this season as they took on the 2-1 Knights Corner.
Seeing PRFA rookie pitcher Robert Vitullo for the first time, the Shamrocks managed to score a 1st inning run for the first time this season. Craig Emanuel’s basehit to right plated Tommy Kelly and the Shamrocks were on the board.
With their offense starting to click, the Shammys line-up started to force the play putting the pressure on the Knights Corner’s pitchers and defence. A lead-off single by #9 hitter Paul Fleming and a stolen base was cashed in by Chris Tercer who then put himself into scoring position with the Shamrocks 2nd stolen base of the inning. Kelly’s hard, deep liner to LF was dropped allowing Tercer to easily score and Kelly ending up at 3rd. The Shamrocks rounded out their scoring with Emanuel’s sac fly to CF, his 2nd RBI of the game and lead 4-0.
Shammy’s starter Cam Armstrong fresh off an up and down 7 inning pitching performance vs the Thundercats battled hard once again but was unable to keep down KC’s hitters for long. Leading only 4-3, and after taking a breather in the 5th, Armstrong came back for the bottom of the 6th unable to avoid another late inning rally for the 2nd game in a row. KC scored 5 runs in the inning with most of the damage coming on JC Boisvert’s bases loaded triple and took the 8-4 lead.
Faced to produce another 7th inning rally, the Shamrocks didn’t have to look too far in their past to draw inspiration from. Coming back from 4 runs down in the bottom of the 7th last game vs the Thundercats, the Shamrocks had the same challenge ahead of them.
The rally started with Paul Fleming’s 1-out single. But after Armstrong flied out to CF, the Shamrocks were now down to their last out still trailing by 4.
Tercer, who was the hero last game, singled to keep things moving.
With two runners now moved into scoring position, Kelly drove one through the left side plating both runners and cutting KC’s lead to 8-6.
The Shamrocks were still down to their last out but remained patient and confident they could complete another amazing comeback. Emanuel drew the 2-out walk and now represented the tying run.
“Sometimes you need some luck on your side” said Shamrocks pitcher and manager Cam Armstrong after the game.
What he was referring to was Ted Boggs at-bat in the 7th.
Trailing by 2 runs, the tying run at 1st base and down to their last out, Boggs fly ball to RF was dropped and rolled away from the fielder. Kelly scored from 2nd. Emanuel raced around the bases and scored from 1st scoring and tying the game 8-8. Boggs ended up at 3rd and now represented the go-ahead run. Unfortunately the comeback couldn’t be fully completed as grand as last game. Mike Damtsis, 1-for-3 in the game to that point, grounded out to 2nd to end the inning.
That would be it for the dramatics as the Shamrocks retired the KC order in the bottom of the 7th to preserve tie.
Improving to 1-2-1 on the season, the Shamrocks are still looking to get to the .500 mark. Their next opportunity will be next Monday, 6:30 when the host the REDS.
Season/Game Notes:
- Chris Tercer has had 2 hits in each game this season (8-for-13, .615)
- Tom Kelly reached base 3 times, scoring 3 runs
- Paul Fleming 2-for-2 with a BB, 2 SB, 2 Runs scored
- Shamrocks have scored 9 7th inning runs in their past two games
